Window screen



Feb. 7, 1939.`

F. DoMlNlcK y WINDOW SCREEN Fiied April 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l1 ATTO R N E@ \NVENTOR 27m/z /czn Dom nic/c BY a@ @We .f

F. DOMINICK WINDOW SCREEN feb. 7,1939.Y

Filed April 17I 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2A INVENTOR 'cmklin omzlrz'ic/i j ATTORN75 Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE wrNnow man nommer. nar-lm. can.

apn 1r. 19:1, serial No. 131m a chin. (ci. 15s-14) v This invention relates toa window screen. and more particularly to' an adjustable screen which may readily be installed in or removed from a window frame.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a window screen which is inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight, and thoroughly durable under conditions of rigorous use. Also, to provide a readily adjustable screen which is l0 easily installable in a window frame in. such a manner as to seal the frame against entrance of insects and the like.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exempliiled in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be n indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown three of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of my screen installed in a window frame;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of my screen;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a portion of a modication of my screen;

l0 Figure 4 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 1, of another modification of my screen;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of the screen shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the lever bracket shown in Figure 4.

In order that certain features of my invention may be more readily understood, it might be pointed out that many removable window screens are variously deficient in failing properly to seal the window frame against the entrance of insects, and in that it is difficult, if not impossible in many cases, to install the screen in a frame the dimensions of which are notstandard. Still other screens of this nature are extremely dimcult to install, and necessitate the use of greater force than is possessed by the average person. Still other screens are bulky and cumbersome and diiiicult to store when not in use. It is accordingly a further object of this invention to provide a window screen which rectii'les the above conditions.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, the left-hand side of a window frame is generll ally indicated at I0, it being understood that the right-hand portion of the frame and also the screen installed therein are substantially identical. A screen, generally indicated at Il, is supported in and secured to frame Il by upper andY lower cooperating brackets generally indi- 5 cated at I2 and i3 respectively.

Screen Il comprises a sheet of screening Il, the frame abutting edge Ita of which is preferably folded over or` hemmed to provide a lapped edge which seats nrmly and smoothly against 10 frame III when the screen is installed, and to provide additional strength to reinforce the edge of the screen when under strain. The upper and lower edges of screen I4 are secured in support 4 ing strips generally indicated at `I5 and I5. These l5 strips being substantially identical; lower strip I 6 only will be described hereinafter.

Still referring to Figure l, strip I5 preferably `comprises a U-shaped strip I1 formed in any suitable manner, preferably from sheet m'etal of '20 a desired gauge. The lower edge Mb of screen Il is folded about a supporting strip Il and both are clamped between the legs of U-shaped strip I1. As is more clearly shown in Figure 2, screen edge Hb and strip I8 have formed in the oppo- 25 site ends thereof slots I9 and 20 respeciively. which register with one another and with strip holes 2| when the screen and strip are assembled.

A bracket 22 (Figure 2) has a vertical portion 30 23, through which holes 24 and 25 extend, the bracket also being provided with a portion 26 which extends upwardly and inwardly (see Figure 1) with respect -to the window frame Il. A suitable bolt 21 (Figure 2) may extend through 35 either of holes 2l or 25, through hole 2| in U- shaped strip I1, and through slots i9 and 2l in the screen and intermediate strip I8, and has threaded thereon anut 21a. which holds the bracket, screen and strips in assembled relation- 40 ship. When nut 21a is taken up tightly on the bolt, the several parts are firmly secured together, but under certain circumstances, as will be pointed out hereinafter, bolt 21 may be loosened to permit relative movement between strip I1 and inter- 45 mediate strip I8 with its surrounding screen portion Mb to permit lengthening or shortening of screen Ii as a unit.

It accordingly appears, with reference to Figure 1, that upper strip I5 similarly comprises. a 50 U-shaped strip 28, having disposed therein an intermediate or supporting strip 29, about which is wrapped a portion llc of screen Il. A bracket 3l) (similar to bracket 22) is secured to strip i5 by a bolt 3i. which extends through suitable 55 holes and slots in the strips and screen, as in the case of strip I1, bracket 22 and bolt 21, as shown in Figure 2. The upper and lower brackets on the right-hand portion of screen II are similar to brackets I2 and Il respectively. It should be noted, however, that whereas lower brackets I3 are provided with upwardly and inwardly extending portions 28, similar portions 32 on upper brackets I2 extend inwardly and downwardly with respect to frame I8, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

It may thus be seen that screen I4 is secured at its upper and lower corners respectively to the extremities of strips I5 and I6. Likewise the extremities of upper and lower intermediate strips 28 and I3 are also secured to the extremities of U-shaped strips 28 and I1 respectively. It follows that the central portions of intermediate strips 29 and I8, and the screen portions that surround these strips are unsupported by their respective U-shaped strips, and accordingly are free to move relatively under stresses.

Frame I8 (Figure 1) has secured in its opposite upper corners supporting brackets 33, these brackets being secured to the frame by screws 34, which extend through a vertical portion 35 of the bracket into the frame. The upper portion of each bracket 33 is provided with a downwardly and inwardly inclined portion 36, which cooperates with downwardly and inwardly inclined portion 32 of each bracket I2 in the installation of the screen. Inclined portions 32 and 36 in cooperation perform the double function of drawing screen II inwardly and downwardly against frame I8, and accordingly eiect a tight engagement between strip I5 and adjacent portions of frame I0.

In the opposite lower corners of frame I (Figure l) I have provided lever brackets generally indicated at'31, each comprising an arm portion 38, from the ends of which extend respectively a finger piece 38 and an engaging or operating portion 40. Operating portion 40 extends downr-.ardly and outwardly of the frame to cooperate with inwardly and upwardly extending portion 26 of bracket 22 when lever bracket 31 is pivoted about a screw 4I extending through arm 38 of the bracket into frame I0.

Thus when upper strip I of screen II is mounted in frame III by the cooperation of inclined portions and 32 of brackets 33 and 30, lower strip I6 may be drawn into a position wherein operating arm of lever bracket 31 may engage portion 26 of bracket 22. Upon clockwise pivoting of lever 31, lever portion 48 and bracket portion 26 coact to draw lower strip I6 of the screen inwardly and downwardly of the frame into tight engagement with screen stop Illa. When strip I6 is thus positioned, considerable tension is exerted on screen I4 and this tension not only forces overlapped screen edge I 4a into tight sealing engagement with frame I0, but also causes the center portions of intermediate strips I8 and 29 to bow slightly. 'I'his bowing action relieves a certain amount of the tension on the screen, not only preventing tearing thereof, but also permitting unwrinkled installation of the screen. It should be noted that this tensioning of the screen will not result in stripping the threads of upper and lower bracket bolts 3i and 21, nor will it cause upper and lower frame bracket screws 34 and 4I to be pulled out of the frame as these bolts and screws are so placed that the strain is exerted at right angles to the axes of the bolts and screws. It should also be noted that while intermediate upper and lower strips 29 and I8 may bow slightly, the window frame remains eifectively sealed because of the rigidity of upper and lower U-shaped strips 28 and I1, which do not move relative to the frame I0.

In order to prevent lever bracket 31 from springing out of screen holding position after the screen is installed,^I provide a suitable detent 42 Aor the like having a latch portion 43 behind which arm portion 38 of the lever bracket may catch.

In brief, the installation of screen I I may be eil'ected as follows: Portions 32 and 36 of upper brackets 38 and 33 loosely support screen II subsequent to lifting the screen in place by a suitable flnger piece 84. Thereafter, the lower edge of the screen is drawn into position where lever bracket portions 40 may engage portions 26 of lower brackets 22. Lever brackets 31 are then swung in clockwise direction, which draws upper strip I5 of the screen inwardly and downwardly against frame Ill, and at the same time lower strip I6 is drawn inwardly and downwardly against screen stop Ilia. 'I'his action tensions the screen and causes its upper and lower edges to bow slightly at their central portions, and accordingly move outwardly of the respective U- shaped supporting strips. This tensioning of the screen also forces overlapped edges I4a thereof into tight sealing engagement with frame Iii.

As noted above with reference to Figure 2, nuts and bolts 28 and 21 may be loosened to permit relative movement between intermediate strip I8 and U-shaped strip I1. As each corner of screen II is similarly provided the overall vertical dimension ot screen Il may be varied at will in accordance with the vertical dimension of the frame I8 to which the screen is fitted. Thus if frame I8 is slightly over standard dimensions, the screen may be adjusted to compensate.

Referring now to Figure 3, in which I show a modification oi the lower supporting strip of my screen, frame Ill is partially formed by an inclined sill 44, which is not provided with a screen stop similar to screen stop Illa (Figure 1). To accommodate such a sill, I provide the screen with a lower supporting strip generally indicated at (Figure 3) in the general form of a reverse L, as viewed in Figure 3. Thus strip 45 comprises an inner portion 46, an outer portion V 41 and a seat portion 48. Between portions 46 and 41 of strip 45, I dispose intermediate strip I8 and lower screen portion I4b in the manner described hereinabove with respect to strip I6 (Figure 2).

Strip 45 is provided with a bracket 58 substantially similar to bracket 22 (Figure l), bracket 58 accordingly being secured to strip 45 by nut and bolt 49. A lever bracket is pivoted to frame I0 by a screw 5I, and has an operating portion 52 substantially similar to portion 40 of lever bracket 31. Thus, clockwise movement of bracket 58, as viewed in Figure 3, causes downward and inward movement oi strip 45 and seat portion 48, causing the latter to seat tightly against sloping sill 44.

Lever bracket 50, as shown in the dotted line position in Figure 3, moves from such position to the full line position in sealing the lower edge of the screen against the window frame. Lever bracket 50 may be held in its closed position by a pin 53 driven into frame I0, and which extends through a hole 54 in the lever when the lever is in closed position.

Here again it should be noted that movement `with the window sill 44, and tensions the screen vertically to cause a slight bowing of the screei and intermediate strip I8 at the central portions thereof, as pointed out above with respect to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It will now appear that each edge of the screen tightly engages in sealing relationship adjacent portions of the frame in which the screen is installed, and further that although the screen is under substantial tension when installed, the installation may be readily accomplished without the necessity of using undue force. Furthermore, the bowing of the central portions of the upper and lower edges of the screen prevents tearing of the screen, but yet does not permit the U-shaped strip I1 to bow, thus maintaining a sealing engagement between the strip and window sill.

Referring now to Figure 4, in which is shown another modification of my screen, a pair of brackets 60 are secured in the upper corner of window frame I by means of screws 8i extending through a slot 62 formed in each bracket. Bracket 60 has an arm 83 which extends outwardly and upwardly of frame I0, and it is upon these arms that a screen generally indicated. at 64 is supported, as will be described below.

Screen 64 comprises a sheet of screening 85 to the upper and lower edges of which are secured respectively supporting strips generally indicated at 66 and 61, which are substantially similar. Accordingly, strip 61 only will be described hereinbelow.

As is better shown in Figure 5, strip 61 comprises a U-shaped strip 68 having slots formed in the ends thereof, and an intermediate strip -or plate having holes 1I formed in and projections 12 extending from its ends. The lower edge 65a. of screen 65 is provided with a hole 13 and this edge of the screen is wrapped around strip 18, and both are inserted between the legs of U-shaped strip 68 with projection 12 extending through one of slots 68 to limit relative movel ment between strips 68 and 10. It will be understood that each end of strips 86 and 61 (Figure 5) are formed as described with respect to Figure 5.

Each bottom corner of frame l0 (Figure 4) i's provided with a lever bracket generally indicated at 14, this bracket comprising (Figure 6) a lever arm having a fingerrpiece 16 extending therefrom and an operating or engaging plate 11 from which extends downwardly and inwardly with respect to the window frame an operating arm 18. A slot 89 is formed in plate 11 and through this slot which registers with suitable holes 19 and 88 in lever 15 extend a mounting and pivot screw 8i and a securing screw 82. Screw 8| (Figure 4) is threaded into the window frame. whereas screw 82 is threaded into lever hole 88 to secure plate 11 thereto. Thus, as is shown in Figure 4, operating bracket 14 pivots about screw 8l to swing plate arm 18 into and out of operative position.

In mounting screen 64 on window frame i0, upper strip 66 is manipulated so as to pass bracket arms 68 through strip slots 69 and 1I and screen hole 13. The weight of the screen causes ,itv to slide downwardly on bracket arms 63 into engagement with frame l0. Thereafter plate ann 'Il of operating bracket 14 is inserted through the slots and holes in lower strip 81, and when bracket 14 is pivoted in clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 4) strip 61 is forced downwardly and inwardly into tight engagement with the window frame. When so installed, screen 65 is tensioned so that its vertical edges engage closely the vertical edges of frame l0, whereas U-shaped strips 88 may move relative to the window frame. It should also be noted that because of the possible relative movement between U-shaped strips 88 and intermediate plates 18, strips 6l will always lie in tight engagement with the window frame, whereas plates 10 may bow slightly at their center portions without pulling the screen out of engagement with the frame.

Furthermore, by reason of the relationship between lever 'IS and plate 11, these two parts may be adjusted to facilitate iitting the screen to the frame. Further in this connection, if the dimensions of the frame vary from standard, the screen may still be effectively fitted by reason of the fact that U-shaped strips 68 are movable relative to the screen as a whole.

As in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, a pin 92 (Figure 4) is preferably driven into frame Ill to fit within a hole 83 in lever 15 when operating bracket 14 is moved into closed position, as

`shown in Figure 4.

might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 1

I claim:

1. Ascreen for a window frame or the like comprising a sheet of screening, and means for tensioning and holding said sheet of screening in assembled relationship with said window frame, said means including a swingable part and a pivot therefor on a vertical side of said frame and engaging said screen to draw said screen downwardly and inwardly into sealed relationship with said window frame.

2. As an article of manufacture, a window screen comprising a sheet of screening, a metal strip secured to each of a pair of edges of said sheet, a pair of metal strips disposed on either side of each of said mst-mentioned strips, and means for positively holding each set of strips in assembled. relation, said means including clamping parts releasable to permit -relative transverse movement between each inner strip and its surrounding strips, whereby the overall length of the screen may be varied at will.

3..As an article of manufacture, a supporting strip, a sheet of screening having one edge folded over said supporting strip, a U-shaped strip, said supporting strip and folded over screen edge being disposed within said U-shaped strip, and means securing said strips together, said means including parts extending through opposite ends of said strips to hold said ends against movement, the central portions of said supporting strip and said U-shaped strip. being unconnected whereby the portions of the strip between its ends are bowable relative to adjacent. portions of said U-shaped strip from forces exerted on the screen normal in the plane thereof.

4. As an article oi' manufacture. a sheet of screening, a supporting strip, and means securing said strip at its extremities to said sheet, said strip and sheet being centrally unconnected whereby said sheet bows at its central portion adjacent said strip from forces exerted on said sheet normal to said strip.

5. As an article of manufacture, a sheet of screening, a plate secured to each of the upper and lower edges only of said screening, and a U- shaped strip disposed about each of said plates and movable relative thereto to vary at will the length of said screen.

6. As an article of manufacture, a sheet of screening, a plate secured to each longitudinal edge of said screening, and a U-shaped strip disposed about each of said plates and movable relative thereto to vary at will the over-all length of said screen, said screening, said plates and said strips having registering holes formed in each corner thereof.

7. A screen for a window frame or the like comprising, a sheet of screening, means securing the upper edge of said sheet to said window frame,

and means operable to secure the lower edge of said sheet to said window frame, said last-mentioned means including a member and a pivot therefor on a vertical side of said frame, said member being pivotable in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said sheet of screening,

said member having a portion for engaging said sheet to draw said sheet downwardly and inwardly against the frame upon pivotal movement of said member.

8. A screen for a window frame or the like comprising, a sheet of screening, means securing the upper edge of said sheet to said window frame, means operable to secure the lower edge of said sheet to said window frame, said last-mentioned means including a member and a pivot therefor on a vertical side of said frame, said member being pivotable in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said sheet of screening, said member having a portion for engaging said sheet to draw said sheet downwardly and inwardly against the frame upon pivotal movement of said member, and means for retaining said member in the position wherein it holds said sheet of screening against said frame.

9. A screen for a window frame or the like comprising a sheet of screening, a supporting strip secured to the upper and lower edges of said sheet, each of said strips having a hole formed in each end thereof, and a plurality of brackets each having a part inclined with respect to the horizontal extending through one of said holes, said brackets being secured to the window frame to mount the screen thereon.

FRANKLIN DOMINICK. 

